Chapter 977: Show Me Your Sincerity!

"Let us fight, fair and square!"

A smile slowly spread across Xu Que's face; at this point, he couldn't wait to release all of the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Mosquitos and end this old hag with blood.

"Wait!" The old lady spoke suddenly and calmly, "You don't have to overthink. I admit, your abilities are far more powerful than most of the cultivators in the Form Synthesis Stage. However, this doesn't mean that you have the upper hand. If we continue fighting, the worst scenario shall be us fighting until we kill each other."

Her temperament was as calm as a lake. Even though Xu Que had broken the defensive spell that was used to protect her, she remained composed with no signs of flaring up. However, Xu Que was not buying what seemed to be on the surface. Having lived in the Cultivator Realm for many years, he was clear about how cultivators really acted.

This is a place where the evil put on kind-faced masks, and wolves parade around in sheep's clothing. He had seen it all.

"He, he!" Xu Que laughed icily; he stood at a distance as he observed the old lady with a contemplative look. A moment later, he wiped the smile off his face when he saw how powerful the old lady remained, without any signs of weakening. She was telling the truth. Xu Que clearly sensed that the aura and pressure she emitted were genuine. She was not putting up a strong front, nor was she feigning the ease she displayed.

Immortal Cultivators indeed lived up to their name. Though heavily injured, their presence alone was horrifying.

Xu Que was still but in the Form Synthesis Stage. Even if he had many other tricks up his sleeve, his abilities were still a far cry from theirs. The gap of three levels of cultivation stages became too hard to close.

"Heh, I think that dying together is better than letting you oppress me once you heal."

Xu Que threw a cold smirk. Just because his opponent was stronger, that doesn't mean he will back off like a scaredy-cat.

He fondled the Beast Soul Bags in his hands as he smiled, "Also, what makes you think that I will die in this battle? We, the Exploding Heavens Faction, have survived in this realm for many years. What makes you think that we won't have 100 or so tricks up our sleeves?"

"You don't have to see me as your enemy. Before we crossed hands, I admit, my attitude was bad. However, after seeing what you've got, I have since changed my mind." The old lady spoke as she glanced at the Beast Soul Bags in Xu Que's hands. "I can swear by my Inner Demons, I will not kill you, and I do not wish to do that. If you work with me, I will bestow upon you a future that will be beyond bright!"

"Hmm?" Xu Que was surprised once again. Her attitude was against his expectations. With a cultivation stage as high as hers, her peace-seeking attitude made her words brim with sincerity.

"All right, I shall listen to what you have to say. What will be the terms of our alliance, and what can you can offer!" Xu Que placed the Beast Soul Bags around his waist as he spoke; just in case of an underhanded attack, he would release the mosquitoes and kill the other party.

However, the old lady was extraordinarily calm. She nodded and said, "Our alliance will be as we have previously discussed. I need you to go to the Refined Moon Palace and bring me a jade box. Since my defensive spell has broken, and there is no safe place for me to recuperate, I shall enter the palace with you."

"Aren't you stronger than me by manifold? Why do you need me to enter the palace for you and not do it solo?" Xu Que frowned.

The old lady shook her head and sai"The Refined Moon Palace is not about abilities. The stronger your skills, the harder it is to get through the spell restrictions. Besides, only people with musicality could pass through the last gate!"

"Musicality? So you picked me not for my looks, but for my musical inclinations?" Xu Que was dumbfounded.

The old lady remained expressionless, "Yes, that is correct. I have purposefully instructed the Dong Family to organize a dinner where we could pick out the chosen one for this task. Initially, we chose you and Lu Zhouhe. Never did we think that you would kill him on the spot. However, precisely because you have executed your skills, we realized that you are a cultivator."

"Aww, if that's the case, why not start with telling me where you came from, how you ended up here, and why you are unable to leave!" Xu Que started to probe the origins of this old lady.

She, however, frowned a little, and after moments of silence, she said, "As for my origins, you don't have to know. However, I can correct you about something."

"What? Correct me?"

"The stages after the Great Vehicle are not the Immortal Cultivators, but the Half-Celestials, then the Human Celestials, and then the Earth, Heaven, and Golden Celestials. The stage I am in right now is the first stage of the Human Celestials."

Upon hearing this, Xu Que couldn't help but be shocked.

Her words were not to correct him but to remind him not to be complacent. There are a lot more realms and stronger cultivators who are better and more powerful than he is. Thus, there was no need for him to know too much about the happenings of the Celestial Zone, as she hailed from a realm that is of a higher order.

"As for the reason I am here...naturally, I came from the Refined Moon Palace. Unfortunately, I was ambushed by villains and was heavily injured. This place became my refuge since. Now, a century has passed, and I have almost recovered fully. If not for you breaking my spell, I could have returned to the peak and taken my revenge!"

After saying this, the old lady peered at Xu Que. It sent chills down his spine.

Xu Que then hurriedly said, "Old granny, please pay some attention to your status and age, and don't throw me flirty looks. I am just a child after all!"

"....." The old lady glared at Xu Que for this absurd joke but remained silent.

Xu Que however, became slightly suspicious. The old lady is at least a centenarian, but her eyes remained youthful and didn't fit in with her face.

"Unless..." A thought arose in Xu Que's mind. Is this old lady in disguise?

"Woosh!"

He immediately called for the System and spoke, "Cunn, Investigate this old lady in front of me, and tell me if she is in disguise!"

Ding! "Who's Cunn?"

Xu Que's eyes got wide. "Of course it's you, the cunning merchant! But that's not the main point. Investigate this woman first!"

Ding! "The targeted person has a high level of disguise. Do you want to spend 100,000 Acting Tough Points to continue the verification of identity?"

"Damn you, forget it!" Xu Que dismissed the System immediately.

F*ck, 100,000 points to see her real face?

Does this Act-Tough Saint look like some gullible pig awaiting slaughter?

Xu Que closed the System interface as frustration overcame him.

If it were him before, a mere 100,000 Acting Tough Points would have meant nothing to him. However, he had spent almost all of his savings to upgrade his system to 10.0 version. His net worth had dropped sharply from 2 million Acting Tough Points to a mere tens of thousands. He can't squander his points just like that. However, it's not like he had gotten nothing from his question. After all, he has confirmed that the lady in front of him is indeed in disguise.

"Young man, what is your answer to my offer? Are you willing to become my ally? Once the job is done, I will share the loot in the jade box with you, fifty-fifty, and teach you how to use it." The old lady slowly said.

Xu Que smirked. "Lady, since we are working together, you have to show me your sincerity, right?"

The old lady was slightly surprised. "Sincerity? Isn't my offer sincere enough? Tell me what you need for me to meet your expectations!"

"It's simple!" Xu Que narrowed his eyes and flashed his pearly white teeth. Grinning as brightly as the sun, he smiled. "Remove your clothes... Puu, no, remove your disguise, and blo‒ha!"